The Miami Marlins won their third straight game on Wednesday with a decisive 9-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs. The nine runs were the most scored by the Marlins this season and moved the team to 6-6 on the season. The game also featured a terrific outing from Mark Buehrle to give the Fish two consecutive solid starts allowing them to rest an overused bullpen.
Buehrle went eight innings in which he allowed one run on six hits while striking out five and walking none. The veteran picked up his first win as a Marlin and lowered his E.R.A to 2.66 as he continued to be one of the better number two starters in all of baseball. With Buehrle’s pitch count at 99, manager Ozzie Guillen elected to go to the bullpen in the ninth. Ryan Webb worked a 1-2-3 inning including striking out the final batter of the game.
It was a big night offensively for the Marlins as they put together nine runs on fourteen hits including two more home runs. After a drought to start the year at home, the Marlins have been slugging the ball in a big way during this winning streak. Donnie Murphy got the scoring started with a two run home run in the third inning. It was the first blast of the year for Murphy who was filling in for Omar Infante as the regular second baseman rested a tight groin. Hanley Ramirez’s hot hitting continued with his fourth home run of the year in the fourth inning. This was the third consecutive game that the Marlins’ third baseman homered in. Doubles were collected by Murphy and Gaby Sanchez, their first and fifth respectively.
The Marlins will look to sweep their first series of the year on Thursday when they send Ricky Nolasco to the mount to take on Jeff Samardzija.
About Larry Walansky
